Ontario’s new car dealers will now be represented by one automobile dealer association now that the Ontario and Toronto dealer associations are merging to form the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association.
Thursday, members of the Ontario Automobile Dealers Association (OADA) and the Toronto Automobile Dealers Associations (TADA) voted in favour of the merger. The new association will become the largest provincial automobile dealer association in Canada — representing one-third of new car dealers in Canada.
A news release jointly issued by OADA and TADA says that Trillium will be the voice of Ontario’s new car dealers when advocating issues to government and auto industry stakeholders.
“I’m honoured to celebrate this historic achievement with my fellow new car dealers from across Ontario. Dealers sell different brands of automobiles but are bound by common issues of importance. Speaking with one voice will make us stronger when advocating our positions to industry stakeholders and government,” said Sandy Liguori, President, Toronto Automobile Dealers Association.
Doug Sullivan, President of the Ontario Automobile Dealers Association called the merger a “momentous day” for new car dealers across Ontario. “This significant event is a substantial step towards better advocacy and will streamline member services for dealers. As a result of this dynamic merger we have formed a superior Association, as we stand united throughout the foremost province of Ontario,” said Sullivan.
The new association represents the 1,191 new car dealers in Ontario, who employ 47,000 people and who had $28.7 billion dollars in total retail sales in 2010.
